Earl Grey Shortbread

I was lucky enough to hang out with three wonderful mothers on mother's day, one of which was my own. My own Mom introduced to me the joy that is a nice sweet milky cup of earl grey tea, and has always been a shortbread fan. So these cookies seemed like a natural fit to bake up and bring for the mothers in my life.

I would say they are on the sweet, slightly crispy end of the shortbread spectrum rather than the ethereal butter and fairy dust type of shortbread. The earl grey taste came through nicely but didn't overpower the butter and vanilla, that to me should be the star of the show.

It is my strong belief that if you have any interest in occasionally splurging on fancy butter shortbread is the place to do it. I found some fancy shmancy European style grass fed stuff that I though worked great here (I mean who is more deserving of fancy butter than your Mom?). But really so long as your butter is decent quality and fresh these cookies will taste fantastic.

Earl Grey Shortbread

AKA Mother's Day Shortbread

Adapted from Ina Garten

3 sticks butter, room temp 

1 cup sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

2 tsp earl grey tea, loose leaf or high quality bagged, ground to a powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

-Beat butter and sugar, salt and tea together until well mixed and somewhat fluffy looking, mix in vanilla.
-Sift in flour and mix until just incorporated making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl.
-Dump dough onto plastic wrap and press into a 1/2 inch disk, wrap up and chill for at least 30 min.
-Remove from fridge, peel off one side of the plastic and sprinkle with about a teaspoon of sugar, replace plastic, flip over and repeat on the other side.
-Roll slightly thinner then cut as you see fit
-Place on an ungreased light colored cookie sheet at least 2 inches apart (I did  not listen to this and my cookies became cookie) and bake for 20 to 25 min until just starting to brown on the edges.
-Cool to room temperature before removing from the cookie sheet or they will crumble